Fire-screen.



PATBNTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

M. B. WATSON. FIRE SCREEN.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.18,'1906.

v lrmmtor Q I T E iii/u Wibwsses v n4: uonms PETER5 (30., WASHINGTON. n. c

FireScreens; and I do hereby declare that the follow- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. MURRAY BELL WATSON, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

FIRE-SCREEN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 18,1906. Serial No. 339,513-

No. 866,1 7o. Patented se a 17, 1907.

t is an opening in the under side of the casing it leading into the interior thereof and extending the full width of the window opening I), there being no interruption in the course of the guideways c, d and e from the side plates 9 of the sides of the window frame f.

j is a shutter formed of sheet metal or other fire proof To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MURRAY BELL WATSON, of N o. 31 Brookfield street, York, Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to and the object of the invention 1s to devise an automatic means of localizing a fire in a burning building and thus it at the top thereof and the forwardly extending flange prevent a conflagration, or to prevent fire from outside l at the bottom thereof, the top flange is extending in entering a building, and to provide a,convenient form of window or door screen which will not in any way be unsightly while not in use, and yet simple and effective I it consists essentially of a plurality wall of a m is a shutter formed of like material to the shutter j, the side edges thereof extending into the groove a and a backwardly extending flange n at the top and a forwardly extending flange 0 at the bottom thereof between said side plates g.

p is a shutter forined of like material to the shutters j and m having the side edges extending into the groove e, and a rearwardly extending flange g at the top and a rearwardly extending flange r at the bottom thereof between the side plates 9, the said bottom flange being equal in width to the opening i and closing the same when the shutters are in their closed position.

3 is a pair of lugs extending downwardly from the underside of the casing h at the forward side of the opening vi and preferably arranged centrally between the sides of the window opening.

I is a trigger fitting between the lugs s and pivotally supported in position on the pin u secured in said lugs panying drawings that form part of the same.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the wall of a building having an opening therethrough showing the guideways for the shutters in the sides of said opening and the position of the drop shutters when contained within the wall. Fig. 2 is a showing an opening therethrough closed by the drop Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through dropping to close the opening.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

Referring to the drawings, a is the wall of the building and b a window opening therethrough. are vertical grooves 0r guideways in the side of the window opening. The said grooves may be formed in the window frame f but are preferably formed in a metallic face plate 9 secured to and either wholly or partly covering in said frame. The grooves c, d and e extend downwardly from the top of the frame, the groove 0 extendmgdownwardly one third of the distance from the top, the groove d extending down two thirds of the distance from the top, and the groove 6 extending from the top to the bottom of the said window frame. grooves are shown but it must be understood that any suitable number may be used.

it is a rectangular casing located within the wall a above the opening 6 and extending the full width thereof, the ends of said casing forming a continuation of the side face plates 9 of the I grooves c, d and e are continued upwardly to the top of the casing h forming continuous guideways.

Wardly extending hook shaped portion to.

x is a downwardly extending hook shaped lug secured to the under side of the casing 71 at the opposite the opening t' and directly opposite the trigger Z. When the shutters j, m and p are .in their raised position the flange 1' closes the opening 1' and the lug o of the trigger it engages the under surface thereof.

1 is a link of metal formed in two halves and joined together by a solder of soft fusible material. The link y is hooked over the hook portion w of the trigger t and the hook shaped trigger in position with the lug '0 engaging the under holding the said shutter p and the shutters j and m, which rest on said flange, in their raised positions within the casing h. It will thus be seen, that, in a burning building when the heat becomes intense, the fusible metal holding the portions of the link will melt and permit the trigger t to swing on its pivot and release the shutter p. Immediately on the releasing of the shutter 39 the shutters p, m and j will drop downwardly, sliding in their respective guideways.

1 0 5 y together The shutter j will drop only one third of the distance in the window frame f as the groove 0 only extends one third of the distance down and the flange It will close the opening 'i. The shutter m will fall two thirds of the distance down, the flange n coming in contact with the flange l which will, to some extent, relieve the effect of-the drop. The shutter p will drop to the bottom of the window frame, the rearwardly extending flange g at the top thereof engaging the forwardly extending flange 0 at the bottom of the shutter 1. I

The shutters are so constructed that the lower corner I of the edge sliding within the guideways will rest upon the bottom of their respective grooves and the flanged edges fit closely together so that the window or door opening will be effectually sealed. All the window or door openings in a building may thus be completely closed by the shutters or screens in the inclosures thereabove, which will have the effect of smothering the fire and eliminating entirely the danger of drafts in conflagrations and also in cases where the heat from a fire in an adjacent building is sufficient to melt the fusible links, the shutters Will drop and prevent the fire working its way into the building so protected. The closing in of the different compartments will also have the effect of preventing the spread of dangerous combustion and poisonous gases generated in a burning building and altogether it may herein be said to be emphasized, a distinctive advantage and advance in the fighting of fires, minimizing the risks of the fire fighters and the ever-present danger of the fire spreading to surrounding buildings.

In order to facilitate the work of the fire fighters, the lower shutter p is provided with a small circular opening 2 through which the nozzle of a hose may be inserted. Thus the firemen handling the hose will be able to direct a stream of water on the burning interior of the building and be protected from the intense heat.

2 is a circular disk pivotally secured to the outer face of the shutter p normally closing the opening 2 but it may be readily pushed aside to allow a hose nozzle to be inserted. Suitable handholds 3 may be provided on the lower shutter so that the shutters may be raised at any time. A small latch or dog 4 may be secured to the plate g close to the groove 6 so that should it be desired to hold the lower shutter in a raised position the said shutter will be raised and the dog thrown over to engage one of the handholds 3.

What I claim as my invention is'.

1. In a fire screen, the combination with a wall ofa building having an opening therethrough and a casing embedded in said wall above said opening, said casing having an opening in the under side thereof in communication with the aforesaid opening and a plurality of vertical guideways in the sides of the opening through said wall and extending from the top thereof downwardly and upwardly through the opening in said casing, of a plurality of shutters flanged at the top and bottom and sliding in said guideways and ing, the lower flange of one of the shutters closing the opening in the under side of said casing, said shutters being adapted to close the opening in said wall, means secured to the under face of said casing for holding said shutters within said casing, and means for releasing said holding means, as and for the purpose specified.

normally contained within said cas 2. In a fire screen, the combination with a wall of a building having an opening therethrough and a casing inclised therein above said opening, said casing having an opening in the under side thereof, and a plurality of guideways in the sides of the opening in said wall, of a plurality of shutters normally contained within said cas ing and closing the opening in the under side thereof, a trigger pivotally supported from the under side of said casing having a portion thereof projecting inwardly beyond the edge of said opening and engaging the lower portion of one of said shutters and holding said shutters within said casing and a downwardly depending hook shaped portion, a hook shaped bracket fixedly secured to the under side of said casing opposite said trigger, and a fusible link engaging said hook shaped bracket and hooked shaped portion of said trigger, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a fire screen, the combination with a wall of a building having an opening therethrough and a casing embedded in said wall above said opening, said casing having an opening in the under side thereof in communication.

with the aforesaid opening and a plurality of vertical guideways in the sides of the opening through said wall and extending from the top thereof downwardly and upwardly through the opening in said casing, of a plurality of shutters flanged at the top and bottom and sliding in said guideways and normally contained within said casing, the lower flange of one of the shutters closing the opening in the under side of said casing, said shutters being adapted to close the opening in said wall, a trigger pivotally supported from the under side of said casing having a portion thereof projecting inwardly beyond the edge of said open ing and engaging the lower portion of one of said shutters and holding said shutters within said casing and a downwardly depending hook shaped portion, a hook shaped bracket fixedly secured to the under side of said casing opposite said trigger,.anda fusible link engaging said hook shaped bracket and hook shaped portion of said trigger, as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a fire screen, the combination with a wall of a building having an opening therethrough and a casing embedded in said wall above said opening, said casing having an opening in the under side thereof in communication with the aforesaid opening and a plurality of vertical guideways in the sides of the opening through said wall and extending from the top thereof downwardly and upwardly through the opening in said casing, of a plurality of shutters flanged at the top and bottom and sliding in said guideways and normally contained within said casing, the lower flange of one of the shutters closing the opening in the under side of said casing, and the upper flange or another of said shutters adapted to close said opening when said shutters are in their lowered position, the lower one of said shutters having an opening therethrough intermediate of its height, a pivotal plate pivotally secured-to said shutter and closing said opening, handholds secured to said lower shutter for raising said shutter, a trigger pivotally supported from the under side of said casing having a portion thereof projecting inwardly beyond the edge of said opening and engaging the lower portion of one of said shutters and holding said shutters within said casing and a downwardly depending hook shaped portion, a hookshaped bracket fixedly secured to the under side of said casing opposite said trigger, and a link formed in two halves and engaging the hooked extension of said trigger and the opposing hook shaped bracket on said casing the half portion of said link being secured together with a fusible metal, as and for the purpose specified.

Signed at the city of Toronto, in the county of York, Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, this 11th day of October, 1906.

MURRAY BELL \VATSON.

Witnesses H. DENNISON, E. WiLKnvj 

